The Well of Youth

I was certain that it was something I would never be able to lay my eyes upon. But here it is nonetheless. I could not believe my ears when i heard that my knights stumbled upon it. What am I talking about? Why, the Well of Youth of course. That it was found within my lifetime is a blessing that I'll never be ungrateful for, and it was cutting it close too, for you see, I, Rudolph IV am pushing 70 years old. But while I'm currently mesmerized by the well my attendant is currently hard at work with pulling up a sizeable amount of the well's Youth Elixir.

"Mason! are you still not done?" I asked him Irritably"Your Highness, I understand your impatience but i assure you that it will come up eventually."
"Mason, you know i cannot leave this kingdom in the hands of my sons, we both know that the kingdom would be effectively dead if that were to occur."

I hear the sound of splashing water get louder and louder, the elixir is coming my way. It's time to say goodbye to these wrinkles and hello to my younger self. Mason is pouring the Elixir into a chalice and hands it over to me.

"Your Highness, this is very important, when you start drinking the Elixir you cannot stop until there is no more elixir in the chalice, this rule must not be broken under any circumstances, if broken it will result into your immediate death."

I set the chalice at my lips and start to drink the elixir, but at that exact moment I hear a voice behind me that is all too familiar and all too unwanted.

"So Father, resorting to ancient fairy tales just to keep ruling the kingdom are we? Although we think your reign as king has lasted long enough already."

Right at that moment is when my own flesh and blood son pushed me over the edge of the well with his own two hands. As I look up at my son's face I feel regret, anger, but most of betrayed. For what hurt me most of all was the fact that my most trusted Attendant stood by and watched me get assassinated. For how long has Mason been under my son's thumb? I have no idea, and to be honest, as i fall to my death, I no longer care.